Andhra Pradesh News on January 6, 2014

Palem victims' families meet Transport MinisterUnder the leadership of film actor Sivaji, kin of those killed in Palem Volvo bus fire accident victims met the Transport Minister Botcha Satyanarayana on Monday. They submitted four important demands to him including payment of ex-gratia of Rs.25 lakhs, government job for the family, demanding action on the bus owner JC Prabhakar and plying of buses with government permission are among those. Expressing his inability, Botcha Satyanarayana said that all these are not in his purview and will write to the Chief Minister on this, he assured to the delegation.

DGP Prasada Rao sent proposal to Government on 'guidelines to police personnel'Director General of Police (DGP) B Prasada Rao has sent a proposal to the State Government to issue guidelines to be followed by police personnel while dealing with complaints of civil disputes. The government is likely to issue a GO shortly. Once the guidelines are issued, all police officers including IPS have to take decisions based on the instructions. Official sources said that over 20 police officers were suspended in the State during last year for their involvement in civil disputes.

YSRCP in the guise of integration lists supporting division of the State', alleges Lok Satta chiefSpeaking at the media point on Monday soon after the adjournment of the Assembly, Lok Satta party chief and Kukatpally MLA Jayaprakash Narayan opined that a discussion on the AP State Reorganization Bill 2013 has to take place to elicit the opinions of the members. He charged that the YSRCP is intentionally obstructing the debate and in the guise of internationalist and are supporting the division he alleged.

Supreme Court rejects petition on the division of the StateThe Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition opposing the division of the State of Andhra Pradesh and creation of Telangana State terming it as 'premature'. a bench comprising justices HL Dattu and SA Bobde said that the petition is still premature and cannot go into it till Andhra Pradesh Assembly takes a decision, they said. This came when an advocate PV Krishnaiah sought a direction from the Supreme Court.

Pro-Telangana students clash with police in OU campusOsmania University (OU) students on Monday clashed with the police in the campus when they were prevented to take out a rally towards the Assembly. The police have to use firing tear gas when they pelted stones on them. The students demanded that the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill or Telangana Bill should be taken up for discussion in the on-going session of the Assembly and also expressed their ire over divesting of Legislative Affairs portfolio held by state Civil Supplies Minister D Sridhar Babu.

APSRTC unions threaten to go on strike on Interim Relief (IR)APSRTC Employees' Union (EU) and Telangana Mazdoor Union (TMU) informed the management of APSRTC that they would go on strike anytime in the coming days as they were not given any assurance on payment of Interim Relief. The Labour Commissioner held talks with the two unions and the management of the APSRTC. On IR the management could not give any assurance to the employees and they said that it had called them for talks on January 9.

Telangana MLCs stage dharna countered by Seemandhra TDPTelangana MLC on Monday staged a dharna outside the House on the continuous disruptions to the debate on the AP State Reorganization Bill Cutting across party lines, Congress, TDP, TRS, CPI and PRTU MLCs vent their anger raised slogan demanding immediate debate on the Bill. They wanted the members to participate in the Bill at least to register their opposition on the Bill, they said. This was countered by TDP legislators Nannapaneni Rajakumari, and others demanded that the House should first adopt a resolution for keeping the State united.

Minor change in Legislature ScheduleSpeaker Nadendla Manohar has announced a minor change in the schedule of the third phase of on-going winter session. The two Houses will meet on January 17 instead of 16 and the loss of one day would be compensated with a sitting on Saturday (January 18) following Seemandhra MLAs expressed their inability due to Kanuma on January 16.

Rs.5 crore worth materials destroyed in Fire at Hetero Drug unitA major fire that broke out in Hetero Drugs Industries in Polepally SEZ on Monday in which RS.5 crore worth of materials were gutted. HR Manager CS Reddy said that nearly 400 to 5000 workers were present the industry at the time of fire accident however, no one was hurt as they escaped due to the fire alarm. Jadcherla policed and fire tenders rushed to the spot to bring the flames to control.

First signature is on 'Amma Vodi' file, says YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan ReddySpeaking at Madanapalle on Monday as part of Samaikhya Sankaravam, YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy said that he would sign the first file on 'Amma Vodi' Jagan said that every student who comes to school instead of going to work will be given Rs.500 and a maximum of Rs.1,000 will be credited to mother's account. The second signature would be on the poor students pursuing professional courses.

West Zone police raids 15 spa centres arrested 10 personsThe West Zone police on Monday raided 15 body massage and spa centres that resulted in the arrest of 10 people. The police booked cases against five establishments in Jubilee Hills and Banjara Hill under the City Police Act and indecent activities and these did not have valid licence from concerned authorities. Cases were booked against parlours Soul and Affinity in Jubilee Hills, Thai Sabai at Banjara Hills and Sparkle Spa and Paris Spa at Panjagutta under Sections 68, 70 and 74 of the Hyderabad City Police Act, said West Zone DCP Satyanarayana.

Services and Permissions from GHMC to go onlineIn a bid to make the services and permissions from Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on line, the required software is being set up and trial runs will start from 20th. GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar speaking to press said that an applicant has to furnish all the details and upload required maps for seeking building and other permissions. He said that the required fee payment could be either made online through debit/credit card or through demand draft at Mee Seva Centre. Somesh Kumar said that a time frame for processing the applications would be fixed and officials who delay would be liable for a penalty of Rs.50 per day. The Commissioner also stressed the importance of receiving grievances and feedback from the citizens for better functioning and spoke about popularising the GHMC 24X7 grievance related toll free number 155304.